Hobbits and Gandulf
Peregrin Took grinned at Meriadoc Brandybuck as they went rifling through Gandalf The White's bag.
"What's that?" Merry asked excitedly.
"I don't know, but I like it," Pippin replied, holding up a small pouch filled with powder. He put his hand into the pouch and lifted some of the glittery powder onto his hand.
"Peregrin Took and Meriadoc Brandybuck!" Gandalf thundered.
Pippin threw down the back and dusted the powder off his hand, just as Gandalf walked over, his eyes narrowed.
"What did you touch?" he demanded.
"Nothing... nothing!" Pippin squealed.
Gandalf crossed his arms over his chest as the scenary changed around them, from the forests of Lothlorien to the gardens of an unknown place.
"Ok, nothing, much," Pippin said sheepishly.
"Gandalf? Where are we?" Frodo Baggins asked.
"I don't know."
Nyx's children
"TAG!" Faolan yelled as he tagged Serafina.
She squealed and then ran after him through the gardens.
Kanika laughed, then shifted as she ran under a hedge. She zoomed back upwards and leapt for a tree, claws securing her grip.
"We said no shifting!" Victory giggled.
"I'm a cat! We lie sometimes!" Kanika called back.
"Bad!"
"ALWAYS! EEEEEEK!" Kanika fell backwards out of the tree as Serafina tagged her.
"TAG!" Serafina zipped away again, then oophed as she ran into someone. She looked up at people she'd never seen before.
Gandulf, Legolas and Merry
Gandalf looked down at the tiny children running around in front of them. "We seem... seem to have stepped from our dimension."
"But how?" Legolas asked, stepping forward.
"Pippin," Merry supplied, nudging his friend.
Gwen walked outside with Bryant and Eavan in the stroller, Mordred next to her. "That house was kinda perfect. The pool was a definite... Legolas?"
She stopped walking and gaped at the elf in front of her.
"Gwen?"
"What are you doing here?"
"Pippin," Merry said helpfully.
Mordred and Nyx's children
Mordred eyed the group carefully.
"Sounds about right..." he murmured.
"DA!" Faolan leapt into his arms and Mordred caught the giggling little boy easily.
"Vedui'," Mordred said one of the few words of Elvish he knew. (Greetings.)
"Oh, so they're from *there*?" Kanika said, then abruptly lost interest.
"TAG!"
Victory laughed and raced after her sisters.
Gwen
"Aaye," Legolas replied. (Hail.)
Gwen stepped forward and she and Legolas hugged.
"Nae saian luume'," Gwen said. (It has been too long.)
"Los naa i' hini?" Legolas asked. (These are the children?)
"Avavaen, Bryant ent Eavan." (Yes, Bryant and Eavan.)
"I apologise, this is Gandalf the White, Frodo, Sam, Aragorn, Pippin and Merry. And I, am Legolas Greenleaf." Legolas bowed his head slightly, then turned to his companions from middle Earth. "This is Gwen and..."
"Mordred," Gwen replied.
Mordred and Octavian
"Nice to meet you," Mordred said.
"How did you get here?"
"It was Pippin's fault," Sam said, glaring at the other hobbit.
"It was an accident that could've happened to anyone," Pippin said in injured tones.
"Now he reminds me of someone..." Mordred said to Gwen.
"We have visitors? Smashing!" Octavian said cheerfully as he walked up.
"And speak of the devil..."
"What? I'm not that pretentious old boy. Minor demon, perhaps."
Gwen
Gwen grinned and raised an eyebrow at Legolas. "Mani marte?" (What happened?)
"Amin n'sinta," Legolas replied. (I don't know.)
"Amin cael sai nae narn llie faer," Gwen smiled. (I have much to acquaint you with.)
"Lye nauva quen rato," Legolas promised. (We will speak soon.) "I see you are still..." he gestured to her neck.
Gwen's hand flew up to her throat, where she touched the star necklace gently. "En' rant." (Of course.) She smiled at the rest of the party. "But you would be hungry, yes?"
"Yes," the four hobbits said in unison.
Aragorn smiled. "I thank you, yes."
Mordred and Octavian
Mordred smiled slightly.
"Come on. There's sure to be food in the caf."
"If Sergei hasn't eaten it all," Octavian said.
The group started to head inside to the cafeteria.
"Caf? What's that?" Merry asked.
"It's short for cafeteria. It's a hall where a lot of people can eat food," Mordred explained.
"Sounds like our type of place, eh, Pip?" Merry nudged Pippin in the side.
"Aye." Pippin looked up at Mordred. "Do ye have any ale?"
"School, so no alcohol allowed," Mordred said in a rueful tone.
"Not that that's always a problem..." Octavian grinned.
Mordred gave him a look.
"Oh, you're *so* law abiding now you're married and have children."
"Shut up, Tav."
"Truth hurts, doesn't it?" Octavian ducked Mordred's half hearted punch. "Such a *domesticated* Wolf you are..."
Gwen
"A pint!" Merry exclaimed.
"Yes, they come in pints," Pippin said, grinning.
They went into the caf and sat down at the table, while Gwen went to get them a big load of food from the kitchens. Legolas went with her.
"How was the birth?" he asked.
"Painful. But worth it," Gwen said, smiling as she grabbed a few drinks from the fridge.
Legolas looked around in amazement. "This place, is truly wonderful."
"Not compared to Lothlorien," she replied.
"But so many... things," Legolas said.
"You get used to it. Could you give me a hand?" she asked.
Legolas picked up two trays and followed her from the kitchens.
"Time for elevensies!" Merry bounced.
Demetria, Mordred, Jono and Sergei
Mordred chuckled slightly.
"I'm telling you, it doesn't matter what happened in the movies," Demetria said firmly as she entered arguing with Jonothon and Sergei.
"Haldir does *not* die."
Dem, he got shot with an Orkish arrow.
"Well, that's not the point, is it?" She said crossly.
"Honestly..."
"He got shot with an arrow, there vas bleeding and ugh, death." Sergei put a hand to his chest and leaned his head to the side, tongue lolling out from between his fangs.
"Not in the books!"
Gwen
"He didn't die," Aragorn said quietly, reaching for some food.
Merry and Pippin's eyes lit up at the sight of the food, and they started to eat.
"Uh, these are some of the members of the Fellowship... Frodo, Gandalf, Sam, Pippin, Aragorn, Merry and Legolas," Gwen introduced. She sat down in between Legolas and Mordred, and took Eavan out of the stroller and gave her the bottle as she started crying, which set Bryant off. "Mordred? Another bottle in the bag, if you could..."
"The children are as beautiful as we elves had prayed," Legolas told them.
"Thank you."
The Mavericks, Jono and Sergei
Octavian grinned as he saw the look on his sister's face.
"Do I detect a crush, Dem?"
"Shut up, Tav."
"Oh, you're just the one who's obsessed with the books, not me."
"Auta miqula orqu!" Demetria snapped. (Go kiss an orc!)
Octavian grinned and waggled his fingers at her, then yelped as she trod on his foot.
"Dem!"
You were so asking for it, mate. Jonothon's eyes twinkled.
"It's true, you were," Mordred said, grinning.
"You really need to learn when to shut up, Tav. Anyway...these are some of the students here at the mansion. Octavian, Demetria, Jonothon and Sergei."
"Ignore my brother, most of us do except for the times when he becomes so annoying you just can't anymore," Demetria said.
"And I love you too, my darling sister."
Sergei laughed.
"Shut up, moredhel."
"I'm not the one being beat up by his sister, tovarisch."
Gwen
They finished eating and Gwen put Eavan's bottle back in the bag.
"May I?" Legolas asked.
"Of course," Gwen replied, handing Eavan to him. He smiled and sang quietly in elvish to her.
"So, do you think you'll be staying for awhile?" Gwen asked.
"Until we can repeat what Peregrin did," Gandalf said.
Pippin looked sheepish.
The Mavericks and Displaced
"Priss took Gwen to Lorien before," Mordred spoke up suddenly.
"Maybe she could do it again?"
"And this time I want to see that spell," Demetria said.
"Because the oh so peerless and perfect Dawn's spells go oh so wrong." Octavian rolled his eyes.
Mordred barked a laugh.
"Are we bitching about Dawn again?" Vortigern asked absently as he walked to the counter to get some food. Paintcovered as usual.
"Da." Sergei grinned.
When do we not?
"That's fine..." Vortigern wandered back over with a plateful of food and sat down at the table.
"At least I didn't have to go make you eat this time," Mordred said.
"Spike did," Vortigern said, before starting to eat.
"I was at a bit of a dead spot anyway..."
Gwen
"Painting? We like painting, don't we Merry?" Pippin said, grinning.
"Yes!" Marry said, nouncing slightly.
Gwen raised an eyebrow at Legolas.
"They're like that," he whispered.
The Mavericks, Jono and Nathan
Octavian laughed softly as he caught Legolas's comment.
Oh, great. That's just what we need. Jonothon said suddenly as Nathan entered the room.
The blind mutant swung his head to look towards the table, and smiled slightly.
"An Elf. And..."
He frowned as he looked at Gandalf.
"I'm not exactly sure what you are. Strange...and Halflings. Well."
"Ignore him, he's insane," Octavian advised.
"Not half so mad as I make out, Feral," Nathan said reprovingly. "Don't be so rude."
"Has a point. Hush, Tav." Demetria hit her brother's hand lightly.
"Like to see you cope half so well, goldielocks," Nathan said and he walked over to the food counter.
Octavian made a face at Nathan's back.
"So, what's with him?" Merry asked in a whisper.
"I have Seen too much," Nathan said cryptically. "Too much too often, and now all I see is flames...she will come for her Key."
"But she won't get him," Mordred said firmly.
"Howl so loudly, Wolf. Perhaps you can change it, perhaps not. Beware the Shadow in the Woods...they used to be so lightfilled, did they not, Elf? And then the spiders came crawling. Webs to block out the light..."
Gwen
Gwen frowned. "We will need to fight, then?"
"If we are still here, we will help in every way," Aragorn spoke up.
"Another quest... mission... thing?" Pippin asked.
"Yes," Legolas replied, smiling.
Nathan and Mordred
Nathan laughed slightly and shook his head.
"So brave...but you've already faced a deeper Darkness...ringed with flame..."
He looked directly at Frodo with his sightless eyes and the hobbit shrank back slightly.
"It still pulls at you, doesn't it? Preciousssssssss," the mutant hissed between his teeth.
Frodo whitened.
Mordred stood slightly.
"That's enough, Nathan."
"So brave, Wolf, so brave. But is it enough to keep the storm at your side?" Nathan tilted his head to the side.
"Or will the Elves call her away?"
"Get. Out," Mordred growled in a deadly voice, eyes blue ice.
"I'm going, Wolf, I'm gone. Beware the Woods of the Mirkwood."
Nathan laughed the laughter of the truly mad and then slipped out the door.
Gwen
"Shall we walk?" Legolas asked Gwen.
"Yeah, sure." Gwen stood and took Eavan from Legolas, and put her back in the stroller, and tucked Bryant in properly. "I'll meet you for dinner later, my love?" she said, kissing Mordred's head.
The Mavericks and Spike
"Sure, mo cariad," Mordred said, then he caught her mouth for a proper kiss.
"Still nowhere near Vort and Spike's efforts, but I would give it an eight," Octavian said. Mordred flipped him the bird, Octavian grinned then yelped as Demetria hit his hand.
"Ow!"
"Hush, Tavvie."
"And speaking of the bleached blond vamp, there he is," Octavian drawled. Spike walked in and nodded at those assembled.
"Logan wanted to know why Nyx's wards went off the scale. This would be the why, I'm guessing."
"Meet the Fellowship of the Ring," Demetria said.
The vampire's eyes widened slightly.
"Well...isn't that interesting." He headed over to the fridge and got out a bloodbag, pouring it into a mug.
The hobbits watched with a sort of horrified fascination.
"He's a blooddrinker," Octavian said helpfully.
Spike snorted softly as he vamped out and started to drink.
"You're lucky I have the soul sometimes, mate..."
Bobby and Gwen
Legolas extended put one hand on the stroller and helped Gwen push it as they left the caf, heading for outside, passing Bobby on the way, and stopping for a quick introduction.
Bobby walked over to the table. "Gwen found a new friend... aha, lots of new friends. The rest of the Fellowship? I'm Bobby."
Merry introduced the group proudly, then looked puzzled. "But how did they meet, and why did Legolas never mention it?"
"If you met her, wouldn't you want to keep her to yourself?" Bobby said. "Ah, sorry Mordred."
The Mavericks and Sergei
Mordred bared his teeth in an unfriendly grin.
"Shut it, Ice."
"So touchy. So full of tension. Why, isn't Gwen-" Octavian looked down at the hand clenched in his shirt and the furious cold face of his friend.
"Finish that sentence, and you'll be missing some teeth."
"Ok, someone's a little stressed...."
Octavian patted down his shirt as Mordred let go.
Vortigern put a hand on his twin's shoulder.
Stop this.
I can't. I'm...oh sod it. Mordred drummed his fingers against the tabletop.
Demetria started looking at Sergei's hair critically. He looked at her with a bit of a frown as she moved over and lifted some of the strands that had escaped his loose ponytail between her fingers.
"Dem, aren't you going out with that thief?"
"Am. And his name is Remy," Demetria said absently. "You know, I could do that plait Legolas has in his hair..." She moved around to behind his back. He started to move his head to look at her. "Stop that. Look ahead."
She 'ported her hairbrush from her bedroom to her hand and started to brush through his hair.
"You know your sister is mad, tovarisch?" Sergei said with a sigh.
"Yes. Indiubtably." Octavian nodded.
Mordred looked at where Gwen and Legolas had disappeared then growled softly.
Aragorn watched him with some puzzlement.
"Does it hurt to have those metal things?" Pippin asked suddenly.
Mordred looked up and shook his head slightly.
"Nah, not really. I have the three in my ears, eyebrow, tongue," he stuck his tongue so that they could see, "and my nipples done. You want to know about painful piercings, you can talk to Bobby."
Bobby and Rebekah
Bobby grinned. "It didn't hurt at the time... coz I was too drunk."
"We're talking about Bobby's piercing, aren't we?" Rebekah said, sighing as she walked over to the table. "Oh hello."
Introductions were made quickly.
Octavian and Demetria
"Drunkeness, the cause of so many things otherwise unexplainable in the light of day," Octavian said.
Demetria snickered softly as she started to braid Sergei's hair.
"And you would know so much about that."
"Bite me, Dem."
"I don't want to, *I* know where you've been and the places are not pretty nor worth imagining again."
Demetria smirked as he glowered.
Gwen, Bobby and Rebekah
Gwen and Legolas stopped under a tree in the garden and sat on a bench, Gwen using her foot to slowly rock the strolled back and forth.
***
Bobby grinned. "Good call, Dem, good call."
"Trying to get into Demetria's pants?" Rebekah asked dryly.
"Why would he want to wear her pants?" Pippin asked innocently.
Demetria, Octavian and Sergei
Octavian snickered quietly.
"What the beautiful silver throated Rebekah means, is that Bobby wants to f-"
"Tav. Slideshow."
"Shutting up now."
Demetria looked down at Sergei as he started to open his mouth.
"And you, remember who has strands of your hair in their hands. I can pull hard enough to take scalp with me."
Sergei winced and shut his mouth again.
The hobbits looked confused.
Gwen and Bobby
The smashed window took the focus off the conversation, leaving a very sheepish Gwen loooking in.
"No one got hurt, did they?" she asked, pointing to the bow that was lying on the ground, admist the broken glass.
Bobby snorted. "Wow, you're a fantastic archer."
"Shut up."
The Mavericks and Sergei
"Something you're not amazing at, at last." Octavian made a show of looking surprised.
Mordred smiled slightly.
Demetria tied off the end of the braid she'd used to restrain Sergei's hair back from his face and patted his shoulder.
"All done."
"Someone have a mirror so I can see what she's done to me?" The Russian asked plaintively.
Gwen and Bobby
Merry hopped off his chair and retrieved the bow, holding it up to the window. Gwen grinned and took it from him.
"Thanks."
She waved and called out to Legolas. "Alright, officially, no more, I can't do it."
Bobby laughed. "Oh that was bad..." He got up and called for their cleaner.
The Mavericks and Spike
"I can handle a sword alright..." Mordred 'ported outside to where Legolas and Gwen where. "Can I have a go of the bow?"
"So polite, so gentlemanly," Octavian called after him teasingly.
"I can be gentleman-like when I want," Mordred said.
"Ask Gwen."
"Oh yes, Mordred can do gentlemanly..." Demetria sighed slightly, remembering how Mordred had proposed.
"Can't he Gwen, darrrrling?"
"Crossbow's better," Spike said dismissingly. "You can get crossbows that put a dent through solid plate armour."
Gwen
"Mordred can be very gentlemanly," Gwen said, as everyone filed outside, led by four very bouncy hobbits.
Aragorn walked over to Legolas and muttered something in elvish and Legolas nodded. He took the bow from Gwen and gave it to Mordred, handing him an arrow.
"Of course..."
"Yeah, anything's better than me," Gwen said, grinning cheekily.
Mordred and Sergei
Mordred turned the arrow over in his fingers, studying it.
"You tie it different to Shannon's."
"You had time to notice?" Sergei said dryly.
"Considering one of her arrows killed an ugly that nearly took my spine out, I'd say yes."
Mordred looked for a target, picking a far off tree. He drew the string back to his cheek, fingers holding the arrow steady, then let fly. The arrow hit the tree.
Gwen
"Try again?" Legolas asked Gwen.
She laughed. "You're funny, really funny."
"Sword fighting?" Aragorn asked.
She shrugged. "Sure."
He tossed her a sword and she caught it, then unsheathed it, and they began to fence.
"You are not bad at that," Legolas said.
"That's because this doesn't require aiming... well, not that much," Gwen replied.
Octavian and Mordred
"You fence? Fantastic!" Octavian exclaimed. "Nyx was the only one that could before. I'm getting rusty."
"You're so vain..." Mordred half sung.
"Of course I am. I'm just perfect."
"Tosser."
"Not lately."
"Ok, I so don't want to know anything about your sex life."
"Then don't make possibly sexual comments, Wolf dear. You should know that by now," Octavian said sweetly.
Gwen, Rebekah and Bobby
"I'm sure our sex life is much more exciting than yours," Gwen said, still fighting with Aragorn and half running up the trunk of a tree and somersaulting over him.
"That was pretty nifty," Rebekah commented.
"Taa muchly," Gwen replied.
Legolas put two arrows into the bow and shot at a tree, hitting his target perfectly.
"Nice," Bobby commented.
Demetria and Mordred
Demetria clapped politely.
"However, I think I'll continue with my policy of 'porting away at the first hint of danger."
Mordred watched Aragorn and Gwen fight, silently storing away pointers.
"Of course, the intesting thing about fighting Mordred is that he 'ports as he fights. Highly unsporting," Octavian complained.
"He whats?" Merry asked.
"Teleports. Mordred, demonstrate."
Mordred rolled his eyes, and teleported from one spot to another.
"Now, that's impressive," Pippin said, eyes wide.
Bobby and Gwen
"You fight well," Aragorn said, as Gwen lazily sheathed the sword and gave it back to him.
"Can you all do that?" Frodo asked.
"We all have different powers. Well, not all of us, but usually, like, I can make ice..." Bobby demonstrated.
"And Gwen can create..." Legolas started.
"Electricity." She demonstrated by shooting a spark into the air.
Sam's eyes widened.
The Mavericks and Displaced
"Mordred, Jono and I are all telepaths. Means we speak mind to mind," Vortigern said.
And thank God for that, or I'd be stuck with pen and paper all the time. Jonothon tapped the bandages that covered where his mouth should be.
"I also manipulate light," Vortigern said. He changed his hair colour rapidly, before settling back on the original blond and then fading out of sight. "Light reflects off everything. Change the way it reflects, and you can change the way things look." He reappeared, smiling slightly.
"I'm just stronger and faster with better sense then your average human," Octavian said.
"I fly." Demetria floated off the ground. "And I 'port."
"I control a special type of energy." A flare of nuclear energy lit up Sergei's hand, before he dismissed it. "It's pretty fatal to everyone else. That patch of dirt over there, and the tree stumps...I did that when I found out my family was dead. And there's the physical aspect as well." He smiled slightly, white fangs gleaming in his metal black skin and upswept pointed ears showing now that Demetria had braided his hair back.
Rebekah, Gwen and Bobby
"I control emotions," Rebekah said, looking at Legolas and Gwen and wondering at the friendship between them, it seemed deeper than those who had just met. She and Bobby sat together on the bench, each holding a baby, Rebekah singing softly to them.
"Awwwwwwwwww," Gwen said, teasingly.
Bobby flipped her off.
"Hey, you were like that to me yesterday," she replied, turning away from Bobby.
Logan, Mordred and Octavian
Logan strolled out, and folded his arms as he looked over the new arrivals.
"Hey Logan," Mordred called out.
The older mutant nodded once.
"You won't believe this. Meet most of the Fellowship of the Ring. Except for Gimli, and Boromir because..."
"I know the books," Logan said softly. He eyed Aragorn and Legolas carefully. A sort of decision flickered in his eyes and he stepped forward. "Name's Logan. Or Wolverine, take your pick."
"We were just demonstrating powers," Octavian said.
Logan raised an eyebrow slightly, then sighed. He slid his claws out of his knuckles slowly, the adamantium blades shining in the sunlight.
Gwen
The group of the fellowship all took a step back.
Gwen giggled. "That was actually very well choreographed."
"Aiya, kela," Legolas grinned. (Oh, go away.)
"Awwwwwwwww." Gwen pouted.
"I did not mean it," he replied.
"I know. Who could?"
"Oio naa elealla alasse'?" he asked. (Ever is thy sight a joy?)
"Yep!"
Logan, Spike, the Mavericks and Mary
Logan let the claws slide back in and rolled his head around on his neck, the joints cracking with a metallic sound.
"The metal covers all my bones," he told them. "It's called adamantium, and it'll go through anything except other adamantium like a knife through butter."
"He has enhanced healing factor too," Demetria told the Fellowship.
Mordred was eyeing Legolas and Gwen again.
Stop it. Vortigern told him firmly.
Stop pestering me!
Stop being an ass!
Bloody hell.
Spike walked up behind Vortigern and put his arms around the younger man's waist, resting his head on his shoulder.
"What are we doing?"
"Show and tell, I think."
"Ah."
Mary ran out, looking distressed.
"Vort! I blew something else up!"
"What sort of something?" Vortigern asked patiently.
"I blew up one of-eek!" Mary turned and hightailed it in the other direction when she saw Logan.
"Well. Your sister can be interesting chit at times," Spike drawled.
"I should go see what she did," Vortigern sighed.
"I'll do it," Mordred said, and disappeared.
Gwen, Bobby and Rebekah
"Lle merna aut?" Gwen asked Legolas softly.
He nodded and she went to collect Eavan and Bryant from Bobby and Rebekah.
"How do you know him?" Rebekah asked quietly.
"He looked after me in Lorien," Gwen replied. "Everyday for eight months."
"Ah, I was wondering at the connection. You speak too fondly for people who 'ave just met. Gwen, if you would like to talk to him alone, I could look after the children."
"Are you sure?"
"It is not a problem," Rebekah said, smiling.
Gwen thanked her as Legolas extended his arm as a habit and they walked around the garden some more, chatting in elvish.
Spike, Vortigern and Octavian
"Trouble in paradise?" Spike muttered into Vortigern's ear, before nipping gently at the lobe.
"Mordred's worried. Very worried. I don't know if I blame him," Vortigern murmured back, tilting his head close to his lover's face. They kissed gently. "They're close."
"Mmm..." Spike agreed.
"So, what are you?" Merry asked Spike interestedly.
"I'm a vampire," Spike said flatly.
"With soul," Vortigern reproved gently.
"There's a difference if they don't?" Frodo asked quietly.
"Yeah...soulless vampires are evil." Octavian scowled.
Gwen
It was started to get dark, the first stars of the night appearing in the sky as Legolas and Gwen sat down to rest for a bit.
"Vanimle sila tiri," Legolas said softly. (Your beauty shines bright.) "Motherhood suits you."
"Diol llie," Gwen replied, smiling. (Thank you.) "Not hard when you have someone in your life that you love..."
"Mordred."
"Yeah... but.... I don't know... lately I feel... like he's stopped loving me."
***
Pippin nodded. "Soulless creatures are usually evil, aren't they Merry?"
"Yes, Pip." Merry pulled an apple from his vest and took a bite.
Mordred, Vortigern and Logan
Mordred threw himself at the punching bag, kicking and spinning. The bag rocked back and forth as he punched so hard his knuckles started to bleed.
When he'd calmed down, he smeared antiseptic on the grazes then 'ported back to the main group. He howled silently to himself as he saw Gwen and Legolas, then reported to be next to Spike and Vortigern.
Vortigern reached out.
Just...don't.
Ok, wolf... Vortigern wrapped his hand back around Spike's.
"So, I called Priss. She'll come over first thing tomorrow," Mordred told Gandalf.
"Good...good." The old man nodded, sharp eyes picking up the stress around the corners of the teen's mouth and the bruised and bleeding knuckles.
Aragorn rested his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"So, how many people attend this...school?" he asked.
"A lot," Logan said succintly. "Over fifty students, and there's teachers and staff as well. Which reminds me, you haven't met the professor yet."
"It's perfectly alright, Logan," Xavier said as his wheelchair rolled onto the walkway. "Welcome to my school for the Gifted. I'm Charles Xavier."
"Gandalf the White," Gandalf introduced himself.
"Pleasure to make your acquantice."
"My name is Aragorn."
"Welcome to my establishment. How is Arwen?"
"She's well, thank you." Aragorn blinked slightly.
"And a welcome to you four as well, sir Hobbits." Xavier inclined his head slightly.
"I'm Merry-"
"And I'm Pippin."
"Samwise," Sam said quietly.
"And you must be the Ringbearer." Xavier looked Frodo over carefully.
"Yes," Frodo whispered.
Gwen and Bobby
Gwen explained what she was feeling to Legolas, with him soothing her in both English and Elvish. He caught a tear as it feel from her cheek and pressed it to the elvish necklace that hung around her neck.
She smiled weakly and they stood, and walked back over to the rest of the group.
"What did we miss?" Gwen asked.
"A fascinating discussion about the difference between souled and unsouled vamps," Bobby supplied.
"Ah... I see."
"Do you? I hear."
"Shut up, Bobby."
Mordred
"Don't you get tired of hearing that, Bobby?" Mordred said.
"How about we move this inside?" Xavier suggested. "Dinner will start being seved soon..."
"Dinner!" Merry grinned.
"And now you have won their hearts," Aragorn said dryly.
Gwen
Pippin and Merry bounced along at the thought of dinner. "And then we can have supper," Pippin said.
"And bread," Merry added.
"Toast?" Pippin interjected.
"Toast!" Merry agreed.
Gwen fiddled with her necklace as they all started filing back into the school. She went and collected Eavan and Bryant from Rebekah, who looked quite upset at the prospect of leaving them. Gwen grinned and pushed the strolled over to Mordred and taking his hand, as they walked in. She noticed his knuckles and stopped.
"Go on ahead, we need to talk," Gwen said to Legolas and Aragorn. They nodded and did as she asked. She turned to Mordred. "What's wrong, love?"
Mordred and Vortigern
The rest of the group followed Legolas and Aragorn, Vortigern throwing a worried look over his shoulder.
Tell her the truth.
Vort...I can't.
She deserves it.
Mordred didn't answer.
"What makes you think anything's wrong, angel?" Mordred smiled at her slightly.
Gwen
Gwen raised an eyebrow.
"Well, your hands are all battered, and you've never been too good at lying to me. So go on..."
Mordred
"Just sparring, that's all," Mordred said softly.
He rubbed a finger over his knuckles selfconsciously.
"Nothing to be worried over."
Gwen
Gwen touched his face lightly.
"It's a certain elf, isn't it?"
She kissed him gently.
"If he's what you're worried about, you needn't be..."
Mordred
"Mmm..." Mordred said noncommitedly.
He kissed her back, nipping at her bottom lip lightly.
"Don't be surprised if I do though."
Gwen
"My darling... how about I get Bek to babysit and you and I skip dinner? Spend some time alone?" Gwen asked, entwining their hands. "I know I can't stop you from worrying, but there really isn't anything to be worried about. Legolas and I are just friends."
Mordred
"I..."
Mordred kissed her neck.
"Am a jealous paranoid person. You know that. And dinner sounds lovely. Excuse me if I think the handsome talented immortal Elf is just a little bit of a threat."
Gwen
Gwen kissed his cheek.
"Why don't we eat in our room..."
She ran a hand lightly over his cheek.
"Well that Elf has nothing on you. Anyway, you go to our room, and I'll get Bek to mind the kiddies, and get some dinner, ok?"
She pressed a quick kiss to his lips and headed off to the caf.
Mordred and Vortigern
Mordred smiled slightly and walked to their room.
Better? Vortigern asked him.
Better.
Gwen
Gwen walked into the caf and organised the babies with Bek, giving her everything she might need, then bending down to Legolas's ear and whispering to him in elvish. He nodded.
Gwen grabbed their dinners and went back to the room, crinkling her nose slightly as she realised there was bread on her plate. Nope, Mordred was eating that.
She opened the door and kicked it closed behind her, placing the tray of food and drinks onto the desk, then walked over and kissed Mordred.
Mordred
Mordred kissed her back, tongues tangling together.
"I love you."
He kissed her mouth again.
"You do know that, don't you?"
Gwen
"Of course... and you know that I love you?"
Gwen kissed his mouth, then moved down to his neck.
Mordred
"I just get...anxious sometimes."
Mordred tilted his head back slightly.
"Do you want to just postphone dinner for a bit?"
He pulled her down onto his lap.
Gwen
Gwen ground her hips slightly into his lap.
"Sure."
She kissed him softly.
"I know, but you really have nothing to worry about. I'm not planning on leaving you ever."
Mordred
"Good...because I don't think I could survive if you left me."
Mordred kissed her, hands already starting to undo her pants.
Gwen
Gwen kissed him back, her hands going down to his crotch and stroking through his pants.
"Love... you..." she whispered between kisses.
Mordred
"I love you, mo cariad. Always and forever."
Mordred leant her backwards onto the bed, kissing as he exposed her skin. Nipping lightly and leaving little redmarks that faded quickly as he slid off her pants and started on the buttons of her top.
Gwen
Gwen undid Mordred's pants and slid them off his legs, then started to pull his shirt over his head, her fingers playing with his nipple rings.
Mordred
Mordred gasped softly, and helped her get rid of his top. He took off her bra and then slowly started to slide her panties off her hips.
He dipped his tongue into her bellybutton, then moved down.
Gwen
Gwen's hips bucked up slightly in anticipation. Her fingers danced across his chest, her eyes focused on his.
Mordred
Mordred blew a soft breath over her gently.
"So...it was eight months for you. Must've been hell."
Gwen
"Yes, every moment, wanting you... needing you..."
Gwen moaned softly.
"Five days would've been bad for you too."
Mordred
"I have some self control."
Mordred licked over her.
"Contrary to what you seem to think...I didn't hit Legolas, did I?"
He bit down on her stud gently.
Gwen
"Ah," Gwen gasped out. "There isn't any need to hit him..."
She reached down and ran her fingers through his hair.
Mordred
"So you say..."
Mordred stopped talking and concentrated on what he was doing.
Gwen
"I say because... it's true..."
Gwen spread her legs a little wider.
Mordred
Mordred hummed briefly against her stud, then darted his tongue inside her.
"So, no worries about the elf."
Gwen
"Why have an elf when you can have a wolf?"
Gwen squirmed slightly.
Mordred
"That's true. Though an elf could make a prettier pet..."
Mordred sucked hard on one of her hipbones for a moment, before dropping his head again.
Gwen
"Pets aren't as interesting..."
Gwen ran her hands through his hair.
"I'd much rather you."
Mordred
Mordred grinned slightly.
He flicked his tongue over her stud lightly.
"Good to hear."
Gwen
Gwen moaned.
"Yeah..."
Her hips bucked up.
Mordred
Mordred slid a finger inside her as he kept licking.
Gwen
Gwen moaned again and closed her eyes, her back arching slightly.
Mordred
You know...I could do this all day.
Mordred slid another finger inside her and flicked her stud with his own.
Gwen
"Ahh... I... have no... objections..."
Gwen shivered and she squirmed slightly on the bed.
Mordred
I didn't think you would. After all, there's what, eight months to catch up on.
Mordred hummed briefly as he moved his fingers quickly.
Gwen
Gwen shivered and moaned.
"Oh God..."
Mordred
I love you so much Gwen...
Mordred quickened his movments.
Gwen
Gwen moaned loudly as she started to come.
"Mordreeeeeeed..."
Mordred
Mordred drew out her orgasm with his fingers and mouth before moving up to kiss her.
"Love you..."
He kissed her, hand cupping her breast.
Gwen
"I love you too," Gwen replied softly, kissing him back.
Her fingers played with his nipple rings, then she rolled them over so she was on top, and licked her way down his body.
She licked up the sides of his length, then took him in her mouth.
Mordred
Mordred moaned.
"Oh god, Gwen..."
His fingers clenched in the sheets.
Gwen
Gwen hummed around him, a hand reaching up to cup his balls.
Mordred
"Gwen, oh god, pleassseee..." Mordred hissed between his teeth.
Gwen
Gwen hummed again and her hands started to stroke him gently, slowly increasing their tempo. She sparked lightly along the side and tip, swirling her tongue around playfully.
Mordred
Mordred banged his head against the bed lightly.
"Gwen..."
His hips bucked up slightly as he came.
Gwen
Gwen swallowed them moved up to kiss him again.
"Love you."
Mordred
"MMmm..." Mordred agreed, kissing her back.
"I love you too, mo cariad."
Gwen
Gwen lay down next to him and took his hand in hers.
"No more worries?"
Mordred
"No."
Mordred squeezed her hand gently.
"So, should we actually eat that dinner now?"
Gwen
Gwen grinned.
"It's probably a little cold."
She sat up and moved the hair from her face.
Mordred
Mordred sat up and looked at the two plates of their dinner.
"You might be right."
Gwen
"Spose we should go to the caf? The hobbits are probably getting started on their second dinners."
Gwen laughed.
Mordred
Mordred nibbled on her shoulder thoughtfully.
"That might be an idea. And there's a thought...do we show them the books?"
Gwen
"I don't know."
Gwen stretched her arms lazily.
"I don't know if I'd like to read what I did, if I never actually did it, do you know what I mean?"
She stood and went rummaging around for some clothes.
Mordred
"That's a good point."
Mordred picked his jeans up off the floor and slid his legs into them. He got a clean shirt out of a drawe and dragged it on over his head.
"So, what are they like as people?"
Gwen
Gwen took some underwear from the drawer and put it on, then grabbed her faded blue jeans and put them on, and grabbed a one shouldered shirt and put it on. She took Mordred's hand.
"The hobbits? I don't know, I only met them today too... but they seem cool."
Mordred
"Fao seemed to like them. I trust his judgement."
Mordred tilted her head up slightly with his finger and kissed her lips gently.
"So, let's actually have dinner this time."
Gwen and Rebekah
"Agreed."
Gwen kissed him back and they walked to the caf, holding hands. Gwen went over to see Bek who was sitting with Frodo and Legolas, talking and playing with the babies.
Mordred
Mordred walked over with her, looking a lot more relaxed now.
"So, they've been good?"
Rebekah, Gwen and Bobby
"They 'ave been like angels," Rebekah replied, smiling.
Gwen picked up Bryant and kissed his head. "Aww, you've been an angel, for Bek, haven't you, sweet boy?"
"Awwwwwwwwwww," Bobby said.
"Shut up."
Mordred
"You know, she's going to get sick of that soon, and really hurt you," Mordred said thoughtfully as he took Eavan into his arms.
She yawned and blinked at him muzzily.
"Hello, darling..."
Gwen and Bobby
"She'd never hurt me," Bobby said in an uncertain tone.
"Ha, don't bet on that," Gwen replied, sitting down and cradling Bryant. "And if you wanna be useful, go get us dinner."
Bobby grinned and stood up. "Yes m'am." He disappeared and the reappeared a few moments later with two plates of food for Mordred and Gwen.
Mordred
"So commanding..." Mordred said teasingly. "You've really got that 'mum' tone down."
He rocked Eavan gently in his arms.
"Thanks, Bobby."
Gwen and Bobby
Gwen smirked. "I'm good at what I do."
Bobby set the plates down in front of them. "No problem... anyway, I thought Gwen took dinner into your room... or maybe you were a little busy to eat it."
"Jealous much?" Gwen asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Not at all, actually," Bobby replied.
"Suuuuuure."
Mordred
Mordred started to eat with one hand.
Legolas stood slightly.
"I will take her so you can eat if you wish."
"Thanks, Legolas."
Mordred handed the baby carefully to the elf.
Rebekah, Gwen and Bobby
Rebekah took Bryant off Gwen.
Gwen started to eat, her foot rubbing lightly against Mordred's leg.
"So, how has everyone been?"
"Celibate," Bobby said.
"Diddums."
Mordred
Mordred smiled slightly as he ate his dinner.
"So, what do you think of this world so far?"
"It's...interesting," Legolas said slowly.
"It's great!" Pippin nodded hard.
Gwen
Merry bounced in his seat. "It is, isn't it, Pip!"
They finished their dinners and Gwen looked at Bobby. He groaned and stood up. "That's why you had kids, isn't it? To make them do your bidding."
Gwen laughed. "No, I have you as a manservant, I don't need to make the kids do it."
"Hate you." But still, Bobby took the plates and went into the kitchens.
Mordred
"But you can't really, because everybody loves Gwen. She's just so fantastic, they can't help it," Mordred said dryly, before kissing Gwen's cheek.
Bobby and Gwen
Bobby coughed slightly as he sat down. "Yeah... love."
Gwen slapped his arm softly. "You know you do."
"Yeah... it's love and not hate."
"I know... can't blame you." Gwen rested her hand on Mordred's knee.
Mordred
Mordred laced his fingers through hers.
"But she's mine. So there you are."
"You're a very lucky man," Legolas said softly.
Mordred's eyes met the elf's.
"I know."
Bobby, Gwen and Rebekah
"Awwwwwwwwww," Bobby teased.
Gwen reached over and shocked him lightly.
"Ow."
"Good."
Rebekah tickled Bryant gently and he gurgled out a giggle.
Mordred and Octavian
"I warned you," Mordred said, eyes gleaming.
"That's right, he did," Pippin said.
"We all heard him," Merry added.
"So there you are." Mordred nodded slightly.
"What are we arguing about?" Octavian asked as he entered. He sat down in a chair, long limbs folding up gracefully as he leaned his chin on a hand and crossed his legs. "Do continue."
"Nothing in particular," Mordred said.
"What have you been up to?"
"Bit o' this, bit o' that." Octavian smiled. "Band practice, then I went and got Demetria to forge the chores list. Dawn has ever so much work to do."
Gwen and Bobby
"Mr Frodo, do you suppose we'll be getting home soon?" Sam asked quietly.
"I don't know, Sam," Frodo replied.
Gwen smiled triumphantly at Bobby. "Aha, see, I rule."
"No, I do," he said.
"Lle naa haran e' nausalle," Gwen shot back. (You are king in your imagination.)
Legolas, Aragorn and Gandalf chuckled.
MOrdred and Octavian
"See, you really have to teach me that," Mordred said.
"The elvish, I mean."
"Why do you fight with her? You know you cannot win," Octavian said.
"Almost as amusing as watching Dawn try to argue with me."
"Who is this Dawn you keep speaking of?" Merry asked.
"An annoying self centered moralistic, self righteous chit of a girl," Octavian said.
"Sensing hostility rising..." Mordred murmured.
"You're not the one she keeps turning into a rat, or a girl, let me remind you."
Gwen and Bobby
"Because I'll win, I don't have to resort to elvish to try and win," Bobby grinned. "She's just losing, and she doesn't want to admit it."
Gwen raised an eyebrow. "Lle n'vanima ar' lle atara lanneina." (You're ugly and your mother dresses you funny.)
Legolas chuckled. "Ho naa lost. Unguer. Amin hiraetha." (His head is empty. Hollow one. I'm sorry.)
"N'dela no'ta," Gwen replied. (Don't worry about it.)
Bobby folded his arm. "So now the elf is being mean to me?"
"No, he apologised," Gwen said.
Octavian and Mordred
"Why apologise to Bobby? He's a big boy, he can take it," Octavian said.
Mordred reached out and kicked his friend lightly on the leg.
"*Why* does everyone feel this compunction to hurt me today?"
"You open your mouth and words come out," Mordred explained simply.
Gwen and Bobby
"Oh I'm big," Bobby commented.
Gwen snickered. "Aier." (Little one.)
"Sut uum llie sint?" Legolas asked, a perfectly shaped eyebrow raised. (How do you know?)
"Amin uum n'. Leha, ta naa, tisi, un," she asnwered. (I do not. But, it is, perhaps, correct.)
"Cheating again," Bobby said.
"Cheat this..." Gwen sparked at him again, and he rubbed his arm.
"Owwww."
"Aww diddums."
Mordred and Octavian
Mordred chuckled and rubbed her thigh softly with his fingers.
"Talking in the language no one from this plane understands is kinda rude, love."
"So, if I speak Latin, you won't object?" Octavian raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Nancy."
"Lout."
"Mama's boy."
"Ruffian."
"Grrrr..." Mordred mock-growled.
"I win."
"Psh, right."
BObby and Gwen
Gwen flicked a light spark over in Octavian's direction. "You don't win, because I'm better than you. So ha." She let her fingers dance over Mordred's zipper.
"He doesn't win because your better? Your insults are getting worse, Gwendolyn," Bobby replied.
"Sorry, Robert. And hey, my name isn't short for that. It's just as it is. Fantastic."
"Your name is short for fantastic?"
"Yes, duh."
Octavian and Mordred
Octavian ducked the spark, moving fluidly.
Mordred eyed him. Then threw a book at his head.
Octavian caught it and gave his friend an aggrieved stare.
"Can you stop that?"
"But it's so much fun..." Mordred grinned evilly as his hand crept around Gwen's back and under her shirt.
"I'm just waiting for you not to catch what I throw."
"I haven't done that in years, and the last time you actually managed to hit me, I was drunk."
"Such a dissoloute rake..."
"I'm an English minor noble. Or I will be when my father dies. It's traditional, old boy."
Bobby, Gwen and Rebekah
Bobby looked at Gwen and then rolled his eyes. "You're not doing that here, are you?"
"Doing what," she asked innocently.
"Each other," he replied dryly.
"Nope. But someone seems a little jealous that they don't have a significant other, maybe Bek could be yours."
Rebekah looked up. "Ugh, no thank you."
Gwen laughed.
Mordred and Octavian
Mordred kept throwing things at Octavian, absetntmindedly.
Octavian caught or ducked every one.
"Do you *mind*?"
"Not at all, at all," Mordred said.
Merry and Pippin watched with wide eyes as Octavian bent almost double, then flipped over the back of his chair.
"This is beginning to become irritating."
"I do try."
"Connard!" Octavian hissed. "Lupus diaboli!" (Evil wolf!"
"I do understand some Latin, Tav."
Gwen, Bobby and Rebekah
"Let's play pool," Bobby said suddenly.
"Pool?" Legolas repeated, looking confused.
"A game with sticks and balls," he explained.
Gwen snickered. "I'm so dirty."
"Yes, you are," Bobby told her.
Gwen flipped him off and took Eavan from Legolas, then put her in the stroller. Bek carried Bryant over and tucked him in.
"Rec room?" Gwen said.
"Rec... room..." The Fellowship looked confused.
Mordred and Octavian
"Good, there's more things to throw in there," Mordred said as he stood.
"Rec room, recreation room," Octavian said. "It's a place where we entertain ourselves with various pursuits, est-ce que ce pas aussi, chéri Rebekah?" He batted his eyelashes at her. (is that not so, darling Rebekah?)
"Sounds fun," Pippin said.
"Oh, it can be," Octavian almost purred.
Mordred shook his head slightly.
"Au cas où leur dire, vous pensons-nous?" Octavian asked Rebekah, blue eyes sparking with mischief. (Should we tell them, do you think?) "Il fait un si joli conte." (It makes such a pretty tale.)
Rebekah and Gwen
Rebekah smiled sweetly. "Silence, ils n'ont pas besoin de savoir." (Hush, they do not need to know.)
Gwen and Legolas walked out of the caf, chatting in elvish about the babies as they headed to the rec room.
The Mavericks, Displaced and Logan
"But Rebekah, darling one, it was such fun." Octavian grinned as he walked beside her.
Mordred rolled his eyes as the group entered.
Jonothon looked up briefly, then returned to his soft strumming of his guitar. The TV was on and Angelo, Demetria, Sergei and Jubilee were in front of it watching some movie with a lot of explosions.
Logan looked over, hands laced over the top of his cue as Spike sank one of the balls on the pool table. Vortigern was curled up in a chair, drawing and looking thoughtful.
"What is...that?" Pippin asked, pointing at the television.
"That's a television," Octavian said. "What are you people watching?"
"Reign of Fire," Jubilee replied.
"But why?"
"Because the main male role is a babe."
The huge male dragon on screen roared, flame spouting from his mouth.
Rebekah
The fellowship looked taken aback at the screen as Gwen looked down at the kids. "Hmmm, they probably need putting to bed soon. I'll do it in half an hour."
Rebekah shook her head slightly and took her guitar from the corner of the room and sitting by Jono. "May I join you?"
X-men and Spike
Sure thing. I'm just working on a new song.
Jonothon leant over and scribbled some corrections onto a heavily drawn on piece of paper.
"Fantastic," Octavian said in a pretend happy tone.
Sergei chuckled slightly as the end credits of the movie started to roll on. He got up and slid the disc out of the DVD.
"Let's watch another movie," Jubilee suggested.
"One more," Logan said as he sank another ball. Spike watched him thoughtfully. The mutant sank a number of balls in quick succession before missing. Spike sighed. Snookered again.
He bounced the white ball off the side and mangaged to sink a ball anyway.
"What are you drawing?" Frodo asked Vortigern quietly. The blond teen lokoed up, blinking in distraction.
"Just sketches."
He handed the pad over. Half formed sketches of the Fellowship littered the pages. The one that Vortigern had been working on was Aragorn, sword drawn and coming around in a deadly strike.
Rebekah
Rebekah thought for a second, then strummed out a tune on the guitar and started to sing.
"If I could paint
I'd paint a portrait of you
The sunlight in your eyes a masterpiece of truth
And a single tear like a silent prayer
That's shining so much brighter than a diamond ever dared
If I could do anything at all, I'd do it for you
If I could write
I'd write a book for you
A tale of hidden treasures with an I.O.U
And a million words wouldn't say a thing
That won't be said in three words
Where love's the central theme
If I could do anything at all, I'd do it for you
Darling can't you see
What you mean to me
Anything that I can do I'll do it for you
And darling don't you know
Just how far I'd go
Anything that I can do, I'd do it for you
Sometimes I feel so second-rate
Seems loving you was my greatest mistake
I know I'm insecure
And love don't keep score
But I wish I could give you more
If I could play
I'd play up a storm for you
A raging sea of passion that you never knew
Every whispered sound would touch your heart
And maybe for a moment I could be your favourite star
If I could do anything at all
If I could, I'd give you more
If I could do anything at all... I'd do it for you
And darling can't you see
You mean the world to me
Anything that I can do I'll do it for you
And darling don't you know
Just how far I'd go
Anything that I can do I'll do it, I'll do it for you
I'll do it, do it for you..."
Vortigern, Sergei and Demetria
The Hobbits were murmuring among themselves as they looked over the drawings and Vortigern looked slightly self conscious.
Sergei slid another movie into the player after a brief argument from the people on the couch.
1799-Empty cobblestone streets bordered by stately buildings. A rapidly clanging bell breaks rings in the distance. Two constables walk around a corner, lanterns held high, listening. They disappear down an alleyway. The bell gets louder as they near the waterfront. The two constables arrive, searching, pistols drawn.
"Where are you?!" One of the constables says.
"Here...! Over here!" A male voice comes from off screen.
The constables hurry to the river's edge...Down an embankment, the man, another constable, has his back to us. He's waist deep in dark water, throwing aside his alarm bell, struggling to pull something from the murk...
"I need your help with this."
The constables move forward, cautiously.
"Constable Crane? Ichabod Crane...is that you?"
The man turns to reveal Ichabod Crane, handsome, eyes piercing but nervous and unsettled.
"None other, and not only me..." returns to lifting, "I have found something…," he drags a bloated male corpse out from the water. He backs away, shaken, looks to the constables, "...which was lately a man."
"Johnny Depp!" Jubilee said gleefully. "Oh, swoon!"
"If you like the sallow almost corpselike look," Angelo muttered.
Demetria slapped his arm.
"Hush!"
Gwen and Bobby
Gwen stood and stretched her arms. "Ok, I'm putting these two to bed." She started to leave the room and Rebekah jumped up to help her, looking shyly at Legolas. Legolas smiled and followed after them, talking to Rebekah softly.
"Hmmm, I think Bek likes the elf," Bobby commented offhandedly, watching the movie.
The Mavericks
Mordred followed his wife and children.
Octavian lifted an eyebrow slightly when his sister giggled.
"And that is meant to bother me how? It is merely the game of courtly love."
"You know, we should do that," Demetria said thoughtfully.
"Do what?" Jubilee asked as Ichabod Crane entered Sleepy Hollow.
"Play the game of cour de l'amour, le jeu des roses," Demetria answered.
"It could be fun..." Octavian rubbed his upper lip thoughtfully.
"How would you like to play at being chivalrous and gentlemanly, Bobby? Of course you need a lady to play court to..." Demetria said slowly.
Bobby, Rebekah and Gwen
Bobby grinned. "Pass. What ladies are there, that aren't taken?"
Rebekah and Legolas took a detour to outside, going out and looking at the stars, comparing constellations from Middle Earth.
Gwen turned and kissed Mordred as they went into their room. She lifted Eavan out of the stroller as she started crying. "Hmm, she's probably hungry."
She lifted her shirt and went about feeding Eavan.
The Mavericks and Sergei
"See, that's the thing." Octavian sat down on the arm of the couch.
"The lady may be taken, but that does not mean you cannot pay court," Demetria said.
"Love poems, flowers...all those little things. It's not called the game of roses for nothing. Pretty words," Octavian said.
"Nothing serious, nothing meaningful," Demetria said with a bit of a laugh.
"It's more fun for the ladies then their pining knights," Octavian sighed.
"But you pine so prettily, Tavvie!"
"So, what exactly is the point?" Sergei asked, interested despite himself.
"Plaisir, mon ami, plaisir. A way to while away the hours..." Octavian smiled slightly.
"It's flirting, more or less, in a romantic fashion. With carefully laid down rules and practices," Demetria said.
"Sounds interesting," Frodo said. He handed Vortigern's sketchbook back.
"Pardon my intrusion, I seek Baltus Van Tassel but -" Ichabod said apologetically from the screen.
"Height of fashion in aristocratic circles in the Middle Ages," Octavian drawled.
Mordred watched Gwen with heavy lidded eyes. When Bryant began to whimper, he picked the boy up. The baby soon quieted.
Gwen and Bobby
Eavan decided she'd had enough, and so Gwen pulled her shirt back down and burped her gently. She carried her over to the change table and changed her nappy and put a new yellow jumpsuit on her, then took her over to the cot.
Bobby grinned. "Sounds alright, yeah, why not?"
The Mavericks, Sergei and Spike
Mordred just smiled as he watched her, rocking Bryant slightly in his arms.
"Splendid!" Demetria exclaimed. She looked at Spike and Logan, who were just finishing up their game. "Can we all have a free day tomorrow and do it?"
"You'd have to ask the professor," Spike said.
"I think that we all need a bit of a break. The school's scheduled lessons for tomorrow are cancelled." The professor's calm voice echoed in everyone's mind. "I look forward to watching this with interest."
The Hobbits shivered.
"Does he do that often?" Sam asked the people from the school.
"Not as often as you would think," Vortigern said, before licking the point of his pencil.
"Come on, Tavvie. We have some work to do." The two British twins disappeared to set up for tomorrow.
Jubilee, Sergei and Angelo looked back at the screen.
" So. Three persons murdered. First, Peter Van Garrett and his son Dirk Van Garrett, both of them strong capable men, found together, decapitated. A week later, the Widow Winship, also decapitated. I will need to ask you many questions, but first let me ask - is anyone suspected?" Ichabod asked.
Bobby and Gwen
"I take it I've agreed to something that I'm going to have no idea how to go about," Bobby murmured as he settled himself on the couch.
"Sounds like it," Pippin said.
Gwen noticed Mordred looking at her and she raised an eyebrow, smiling at him.
"What are you looking at?"
Mordred and Vortigern
Vortigern smiled slightly.
"Yeah...and you've managed to get the professor involved in it as well, so now we're all doing it. Thanks so much, Bobby," he said jokingly.
"I'm just watching you, love."
Mordred smiled at her.
Bobby and Gwen
"A brighter side, no classes tomorrow," Bobby said, grinning sheepishly.
Gwen went over to kiss him, then took Bryant from him, feeding him, then burpring him. She yawned as she went over to the change table.
Vortigern and Mordred
"That's true." Vortigern nodded.
The Hobbits settled in front of the TV, eyes wide.
They gasped and sat back as the Horseman claimed his first on screen victim.
Aragorn watched from a corner as he got out his pipe and lit it.
Mordred got up and moved her away.
"I can do this, you look tired."
He efficently changed Bryant's nappy.
Gwen and Bobby
"Not tired," Gwen said stubbornly, then promptly yanwing again. She changed into her pyjamas and sat on the bed, while braiding her hair absently.
"I still don't really know what I've gotten us all into..." bobby said thoughtfully.
Vortigern and Mordred
"Some game apparently only Dem and Tav know the rules to," Vortigern said. He clapped his hands in the polite manner.
"Well done. Oh, very well done, Bobby."
Aragorn chuckled slightly.
The movie continued.
"Are too tired." Mordred settled Bryant in his cot, and then went into the bathroom to take a shower.
Gwen and Bobby
Gwen stuck her tongue out, then lay down on the bed and closed her eyes, rolling over to go to sleep.
Bobby grinned. "I live to give. Anyway, I'm going to bed."
"Bed?" Merry looked up.
"Oh, damn, do we have beds for them?"
Spike, Logan and the Mavericks
"We'll find some, we always do," Spike drawled.
"Logan, I'll find somewhere for the Hobbits. Can you take care of the others?"
"Sure." Logan put the snooker balls away.
Spike headed off with the Hobbits following him.
"Same." Vortigern stood, stretching slightly.
Demetria waved slightly, then teleported out.
"There's a spare bed in my room," Octavian said as he stood.
Rebekah and Bobby
Legolas and Rebekah walked back in to help with the bed arrangements. It was soon sorted, so Bobby decided to take his leave and knicked off to bed, still wondering what was happening tomorrow.